people's favorite, which means you make more money. Whatever
happens, you're richer with Braddock back in the ring." Gould sat
back. "So what do you say?"
As soon as he got an answer, Joe rushed back to the gym.
"I got you a fight," he told Jim from the ropes. "You're going to
fight John Henry Lewis again."
Jim climbed out of the ring. "I could kiss you."
Joe took a step back. "Please don't!" The manager became
suddenly serious. "I won't lie, Jimmy. You're in this fight because
you're meat. But if you win it, I can get you another one. If you
win the next, then everything changes."
Jim understood. He turned toward the heavy punching bag.
"Jimmy," Joe called.
Jim turned and saw the old fire in his manager's eyes.
"Win!" said Joe.
•
It was the afternoon before the fight. Jim was still at home.
"I know this isn't what you wanted," he said softly to Mae. "But
I can't win if you don't support me."
Mae put the pile of clean clothes down and stepped up to her
husband. "I always support you," she whispered.
While their parents were kissing, the three children took their
chance to run out of the apartment. They walked through the
small crowd that stood outside the building. Soon they stood again
in the butcher shop.
"What can I do for you today?" Sam, the butcher, asked.
"My dad's fighting a man who beat him badly once before,"
said Rosy anxiously. "What kind of steaks do you have?"
Down the block, Jim stepped out of the apartment house and
was met by a small crowd of neighbors.
"We're all supporting you," said an old man.
"Take him down, Jim!" cried another.
42
Suddenly, a familiar face appeared in front of Jim—Mike
Wilson. They shook hands.
"I put some money on you," Mike said.
"Mike, everybody expects Lewis to win," said Jim.
But Mike just gave a confident smile. "Do you need some help
in your corner?" he asked.
Jim shook his head. "I have my regular guys for that. You know
how it is, Mike."
Mike's shoulders dropped, but he tried to laugh. "Sure I do, Jim.
Now go and win the fight!"
•
The powerful jab pushed Braddock back against the ropes. John
Henry Lewis was a young black boxer with quick hands and a lot
of skill. His perfectly timed combinations of punches pushed Jim
on to the ropes again.
"Lewis is here to repeat his win over Braddock," said the radio
announcer.
For three rounds, the two fighters danced around the ring,
looking for the other man's weak areas. Then, in the fourth round,
the fight became serious. The fighters went toe to toe, refusing to
step back.
In his corner at the end of the round, Lewis looked confused.
"You beat this guy easily last time!" his manager screamed.
Lewis just shook his head. "He isn't the same guy."
In the opposite corner, Gould checked Braddock's face. The
boxer was tired and breathing hard, his body covered with sweat.
"He's even faster than I remember," said Jim.
Gould spoke into the boxer's ear. "He's fast, but he'll be slower
after a few more punches. Watch him—he always moves to the
right."
Both fighters started round five like mad animals. Leather
gloves flew, and neither man backed away. Suddenly, Braddock
43
hit his opponent with a powerful cross and Lewis was down on
one knee. When the fight continued, Lewis wasn't able to protect
himself, letting Braddock knock him back on to the ropes.
In the end, the judges gave the fight to Braddock. Some sports
reporters said that he had deserved to win. Others said that he had
just hit Lewis with a few lucky punches.
As Joe Gould gave Jim his share of the prize money, he said,
"Take care of yourself. Our luck has changed—I'm sure of it."
•
A month later, in December 1934, Jimmy Johnston made the
announcement that Joe Gould expected. He was going to
organize fights among the top heavyweight boxers. Finally, one
man would be chosen to fight the champion, Max Baer, for
the heavyweight title. Johnston had several boxers in mind, but
Braddock wasn't one of them. He didn't think that Braddock was
lucky—he was good. Johnston didn't want the New Jersey boxer to
stop another of his young stars.
But Gould refused to take no for an answer. Again and again he
went to Johnston's office, trying to get a fight for his man.
"How about a fight with Art Lasky?" he tried.
At first Johnston refused. But, after hearing how confident
Lasky's people were, he changed his mind. Braddock's next fight
was going to be with Art Lasky. He was a young fighter from
Minnesota who had won a few fights in the West. He wasn't as fast
as Lewis, but he was big and strong.
•
The Lasky fight started well for Braddock. In the early rounds, his
opponent couldn't get past Braddock's gloves. The boxer from
Minnesota took a lot of punishment and soon his nose was bloody.
Everything changed in the fifth round. Lasky started hitting
Braddock with punch after punch to the body. Fighting with new
44
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